<b>“</b>You found out?” Zachary looked a little embarrassed.
“What were you thinking, going out of your way to get punched? You know Six doesn’t pull any punches,” Alessia replied.
“If you mess up, you deserve what’sing. Besides, we agreed to it from the start.” Zachary gave a sheepish grin, clearly not bothered by the bruise on his cheek. Honestly, he’d asked for it–he had no one to me but himself.
“Lessie.”
He called after Alessia as she turned to leave.
“What is it?”
“I was out of line before. I want to apologize, properly.” With that, Zachary gave a small, earnest bow. “I promise it won’t happen again.”
Alessia’s lips curled in a half–smile, her response a nomittal, “Mm.” Then she started walking toward the bus stop.
Zachary couldn’t quite read her, but he knew better than to push his luck. He hurried to catch up, walking beside her. When he nced down and caught the hint of a smile tugging at her mouth, the tension in his chest finally eased.
He’d never make such a foolish mistake again. He finally understood who his real family was–the ones who truly deserved his care and protection. There was no more room for doubt.
Things were looking up.
The restaurant was thriving–affordable prices, generous portions, and a prime location kept the Mortons so busy they barely had a moment to catch their breath, but it was a good kind of busy. Even though it was billed as a breakfast ce, they’d have a steady crowd at lunch and after school, with kids dropping by for a bowl of pasta or a hearty sandwich.
The downside? With so many customers, the couple hardly had time to cook for their own kids who were still in school. They’d started talking about hiring someone reliable who could cook and handle the rush.
Ethan, the eldest, was thriving at his internship, thanks to Calvert’s one–on–one mentoring. He’d already closed two major cases, throwing himself into work with a drive that bordered on obsession. His strong skills and easygoing manner quickly
<b>won </b>over <b>the </b><b>rest </b><b>of </b><b>the </bw <b>firm</b>.
<b>Zachary</b><b>, </b>the second son, was diligently learning to identify medicinal herbs<b>, </b><bying </b><b>a </b><b>solid </b>foundation before moving on to more advanced studies. With Xander’s <b>help</b>, his health had improved dramatically–gone was the pale, frail boy from before<b>. </b>
Liam, the third brother, had covered Tristan’s debut song and was suddenly everywhere. His air of mystery and steady stream of new music kept him in the spotlight. ording to his dance teacher, Liam was a natural talent, putting in extra hours of practice every day, and he’d be a hotmodity for both Jason and the other producers.
Jason, in particr, considered Liam a real gem–his musical instinct was second to none. Jason could hardly wait to coborate and create a song that would be a timeless ssic.
If the Morton family hadn’t fallen on hard times, Ethan would have graduated on schedule and started aw firm with like–minded friends. Zachary would have taken his college entrance exams and enrolled in med school. Liam would have stayed in school, learning how to write even better music.
Before things fell apart, their paths had seemed so clear, so ordinary. But when everything changed, the smooth road ahead turned into a winding, uncertain trail. That sharp contrast made them realize just how easily opportunities could slip away, how dreams within reach could suddenly be distant stars–visible, but untouchable.
Now, thanks to Alessia, they had a second chance to reach for those stars. None of them wanted to let her down, or to feel the pain of losing their dreams again. All they could do was keep pushing forward, giving it everything they had.
As for Ivan… in the end, he joined Alessia and the others at the amusement park. “Are you done with work?” Alessia asked.
“The project’s finally wrapped up. Don’t worry–I’ve been eating and sleeping well.” Cole reached over to smooth the furrow between her brows, a quiet smile ying at his lips.